Athens Overview

Athens, the Greek capital, ascended cultural status and peaked in the 5th and 6th century. The territory of Attica, near the Saronic Gulf,  became a hub of literature, culture, and politics.

Athenian Boasts:
1. Autocthonous (auto "self" + cthon "land): claimed they were the true original inhabitants form the earth itself. Athenian heroes have a certain "snaky" characteristic to them, as snakes were believed to have been born from the earth.
2. Descendants from Cecrops: A mortal half-king half-serpent responsible for delivering civilization (city building, arts, burial, monogamy, eradication of human sacrifice) to the citizens of Cecropia.
3. Descendants from Athena: claimed that the contest between Athena and Poseidon somehow integrated Athena's bloodline into their lineages.

Ericthonius (Eri "very" + chthon "earthy"), son of Hephaestus and Athena (Wait... wasn't she a virgin? Well apparently Hephaestus pursued her to no avail, but managed to ejaculate on her leg which, once wiped off, grew into Ericthonius) was given to the Cecropids with the warning not to look at him. Naturally, their curiosity gets the best of them are driven mad at the site of the snaky thing. They manage to throw themselves off the Acropolis, leaving Erichtonius as the only heir.
He is recovered by Athena and raised by the Goddess to ascend the throne at manhood. During his rule, he set up the cult image of Athena on the Acropolis by installing the Panthenaea. Ericthonius has a grandson, Erechtheus (same etymology) who is the third king to ascend the throne.

The lineage of Athenian Kings are rumoured to be avatars of Poseidon, a manifestation of the god in human form, hence the prevalence of hybrid worship between Athena and Poseidon, earth and sea.
     - The temple adjacent to the Parthanon, the Erectheum, holds the Panthenaia, a wooden status
     of Athena, as well as the tomb of Erectheus, and a salt spring.
    - Historically, the location was site of bull worship, a common sea-god sacrifice, but was in
    part dedicated to Athena Polias, "she of the city".

Heracles (Ch23)

Etymology
"Glory of Hera": named to appease his implacable nemesis Hera.
"Master of Animals": numerous man vs. beast exploits

Geographical Associations
Peloponnesus (Mycenae, Tiryns, Argos) for Labours 1-6; transcends to panhellenic heroic status (Boeotia, Trachis, Thessaly, etc.) due to Labours 7-12 and Parergon (Par "side" + erga "work").

Origin: Born in Thebes. Hybrid Greek/Near East culture figure due to sheer abundance of myths. Zeus + Alcmena.

• Local: Prince of Tiryns, vassal of the Mycanean King Eurysthesus (always mighty, never the ruler ie. Ajax)
• Imported: Near East mythologic themes parallel the Gilgamesh Epic (ie. man vs. wild, man vs. manufacture). Imported "primitive" qualities: brute strength, use of outdated weapons (ie. club, bow), dons lionskin, prefers physical conquest over intellectual.

Claim to Fame: Greatest of all heroes in that he ascends Olympus and achieves immortal status among Gods. Completion of 12 "impossible" labours.
Literature: ?

Birth 

1. Miraculous Conception

• Alcmena (granddaughter of Perseus, wife of Amphitryon, King of Mycenae) + Zeus = 
• "Heterofraternal Superfecundation", different fathers for fraternal twins: Heracles (f. Zeus) and Iphicles (f Amphitryon, King of Mycenae). 
• Amphitryon is cuckolded on his wedding night while he is away at war, returns to find his wife is pregnant (ref. Plautus's Amphitruo, Roman comedic play on the situation)

2. Imminent Threat at Birth

•  Zeus's boast, that his child born that day will rule all men, angers Hera to force Elethuia to hasten the birth of Eurystheus, Heracles' cousin. 
• In an effort to appease her, Zeus offers Heracles to Hera to suckle, in which he bites off her nipple = creation of Galaktos ("milky way"). 
• Hera unleashes two deadly serpents upon the sleeping child, but Heracles throttles them while still in the crib.

3. Prophecy for Life

•  Seer Tiresias foretells that Heracles will gain numerous victories and rewards for humankind, attain a glorified death, and be the only hero to ascend Mt. Olympia and reside with the gods.

Midlife

Numerous mentors teach him charioteering, wrestling, archery and music (Linus, Mt. Citharon, is accidentally killed by his own lyre). Heracles is exiled to Boeotia, where he saves the town of Thespia from a lion and is given the Megara, Princess of Thebes, hand in marriage. Just as his family is growing happily, Hera strikes Heracles with a fit of madness, causing him to murder his own wife and children in his own home. He seeks the Oracle at Delphi to expiate his crimes, whereby the Pythia orders him to serve his cousin Eurystheus for 12 years and perform his labours.

The 12 Athloi ("Labours")

The 12 Athloi, "labours" or "contests with a prize at the end", depicted on the 12 Metopes of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. They are completed mostly single-handedly, but are assisted by gods or mortals at times. Several incidental Parergon are completed in addition to attest to Heracles might.

Peloponnesian Labours (1-6): centrally located in Mycanea, feature mostly Man vs. Beast.

1. Nemean Lion:

- NW of Mycenae

- Required to fight lion [barehanded/club/bow] and return its [impenetrable] skin. Had to strangle it, since its skin is invulnerable, and then skin it with its own claws.

- Symbolism: iconography of club and lionskin has primitive artistic implications.

2. Lernaean Hydra:

- SE of Mycenae

- Required to defeat the Hydra ("water serpent"), which has 8 mortal heads and 1 immortal head (whereby for every head severed 2 replace it) as well as a giant crab sent by Hera. Iolaus (nephew) aids Heracles by cauterizing the severed stumps while Heracles pins the beast underneath a boulder.

- The defeated crab is preserved by Hera as the constellation Cancer; Heracles dips his arrows in poisonous Hydra blood (future implications).

- Symbolism: Hydra, a never-ending puzzle.

3. Cerynean Hind:

- Arcadia (C. Peloponnesus)

- Required to capture the sacred deer of Artemis, as characterized by its golden antlers, and return it unscathed to Eurystheus to prevent the wrath of the goddess. He tracks it for an entire year until it yields due to exhaustion.

- Hind is returned to Artemis and Heracles is forgiven.

- Symbolism: Pindarian Variation states that Heracles tracked the hind all the way to the land of the Hyperboreans (beyond the North Wind), a journey symbolic of a conquest over death.

4. Erymanthian Boar:

- Mt. Erymanthos (Arcadia)

- The boar is trapped with a net, presented to his cousin, then released.

- Parergon: meets Pholus (centaur) who entertains him with wine (symbol of mans conquest over nature), but the other centaurs attack them for this betrayal. Chiron (re: tutor of Oedipus) is wounded by one of Heracles' poison arrow, and then offers his immortality to Prometheus because he cannot bear to live with the pain.

5. Augean Stables:

- Elis (area of Mt. Olympia)

- Required to clean the filthy stables of King Augeas (son of Helius) who keeps vast herds of enormous cattle. If he succeeds, he is promised 1/10th of the wealth. With the help of Athena, Heracles diverts rivers Alpheus and Peneus to flow through the stables and completes the deed, but Augeaus renegs on the agreement, earning his own death by Heracles' wrath.

- Parergon: Said to have established the first Olympian games during his stay.

6. Stymphalian Birds:

- Lake Stymphalus (Arcadia)

- A flock of carnivorous predatory birds is flushed out by casanets donated by Athena, then shot with the [sling/bow] of Heracles.

Non-Peloponnessian Myths (7-9): Completed in outlying areas of Greece, which add to the claim of his imported origin. Most feats now tend to combine intellect with strength.

7. Cretian Bull:
- Crete (S of Greece)
- Required to catch the bull that King Minos failed to sacrifice to Poseidon. Once overpowering it, he rides it back to the Greek mainland, where it is presented and then released.
- The Bull escapes through an isthmus and resides in the fields of Marathon where it is eventually caught by Theseus.
8. Mares of Diomedes:
- Thrace (N of Greece)
- Required to capture the man-eating herds of King Diomedes (son of Ares). Heracles feeds their king to the horses, then returns to Eurystheus where they are released and dedicated to Hera.
- Parergon: Alcestes (wife of Admetus, King of Thrace) is mourned because she takes her own life for her husband (wish of Apollo granted), so Heracles wrestles Thanatos ("Death") to recover the Queen.
9. Girdle of Hippolyta:
- Amazon (E of Greece)
- Required to deliver the girdle Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta ("Hippo" horse + lyta "tamer"), which is surrendered willingly. Hera gets the Amazons up in arms to attack Heracles on the claim he has come to rape their Queen. Heracles kills the Queen and defeats the army.
- Parergon: rescues the damsel Hesione from the sea monster at Troy upon the request of wealth from King Laomedon. After another deal is reneged upon, he returns, sacks troy, and replaces the throne with King Priam.
- Symbolism: Girdle (chastity) is given as willingly as her life.

Western Labours of Death (10-12): Non-peloponnesian in nature, symbolically and/or literally represent Heracles triumph over death because they take place in the land that is both beyond the understanding of the Greeks. (Also, sun sets in the west, blood red skies, etc.)
10. Cattle of Geryon:
- Erythea ("red land", far west of Greece), is aided by Helius who transports him by Golden Cup.
- Required to capture the cattle of Geryon ("three bodied monster"; son of Callirhoe = Phorcys + Ceto and Chrysaor = Medusa + Poseidon) as supervised by the giant Eurytion and his two-headed watchdog Orth[r]us.  He defeats all three then drives the cattle home.
- Parergon: When he stops in the outcrops of Spain of Morrocco (strait where Med sea meets Atlantic), he sets up the Pillars of Heracles to symbolize the boundary of the known and the unknown world.
11. Apples of Hesperides:
- Far West
- Required to bring back the golden apples from the tree of life (wedding present of Zeus to Hera), as guarded by the three Hesperides ("daughters of evening") and the serpent Ladon.
- The sea monster Nereus is wrestled into submission by Heracles, and is forced to reveal where the location is. In Eurepides' version, Ladon is killed and Heracles returns the apples alone. In the version on the Metopes on the Temple of Zeus, Atlas trades places with Heracles, and is tricked back into upholding the heavens after he obtains the apples.
- Parergon: Busirus, King of Egypt, and his court is slaughtered after violating guest/host relations by sacrificing visiting strangers to Zeus; Antaeus (giant of Libya, son of Poseidon and Earth), is crushed in mid air to death by Heracles in a wrestling match, after it is determined that he gains strength when he touches the earth; Prometheus is freed from his chains, after Heracles kills Zeus' eagle.
12. Cerberus:
- Underworld
- Required to capture the hell-hound of the underworld and present to Eurystheus.
- Hermes and Athena assist Heracles's descent into Hades, where he encounters and frees the hero Theseus, and promises the marry Deianira ("man eater"), sister of Meleager.

Miscellaneous Labours

After receiving expiation for the sin of murdering his wife and family, Heracles encounters a number of "contests" later in life.
- Cercopes (pair of dwarves) are about to be killed for their attempt to rob Heracles, but their joking of his burned-buttocks earns a more humourous mood as well as their lives. Later turned into [apes/stones] by Zeus.
- Deianira (2nd wife) is won by wrestling the shape-shifting river god Acheolus and breaking off one of his magical horns, which is traded for the Cornucopia of Amalthea. On the way back, the centaur Nessus  offers to carry his wife across the flooding river Evenus, but he attempts to rape her, earning him a swift herculean poisoned arrow and a painful death. Before he expires, he tells Deianira to collect his blood on the claim it will prevent Heracles from loving any other women, without taking into consideration the mixing of poisoned Hydra blood with his own.
- Iole, a mortal on the island of Euboea, is refused from a smitten Heracles, who retaliates by throwing her brother off the acropolis. Once more, Heracles seeks expiation for his sins at the Delphic Oracle, who refuses to answer him. When he attempts to make off with her tripod and set up his own oracle, Apollo intervenes, and Zeus commands him that he must serve as a slave for one year to Omphale, Queen of Lydia (cross-dressing, weaving ensues)

Death of Heracles

After learning of her husbands infatuation with Iole, Deinira smears her husbands shirt with Nessus' blood and sents it to be worn at the sacrifice to Zeus. The flames from the offering fused the shirt to Heracles' flesh, burned off his mortal part, and the immortal part ascended Olympus in a chariot sent by Zeus. Only then is he reconciled with Hera, who gives him Hebe ("Youth") as a wife.
Deineria commits suicide on the funeral pyre on Mt. Oeta, lit by a flaming arrow shot by Poeus (Philoctetes Father) from Hercules' bow.
Odyssey, Book 11: Met by Odysseus in the Underworld, some debate of mortality.

Bellerophon

Etymology: "Slayer by shaft"
Origin: Grandson of [death cheating/boulder pushing] Sisyphus. Son of Glaucus,  King of Corinth.
Claim to Fame: Slayer of the Chimera, hybrid fire-breathing lion/serpent/goat monster located in Lycia, Asia Minor.
Literature: Homer's Illiad, Euripedes Bellerophontus

After accidentally killing his brother, he is exiled from Corinth but finds expiation as a suppliant of King Proteus (brother of Acrisius) in Tiryns. The Queen Sthenboea, however, takes a liking to him, and when her seductive charms are rejected she accuses Bellerophon of rape (Potiphar's Wife Motif). In order to find a way to honor Xenia (Greek Guest/Host relations) Proteus orders Bellerophon to take a letter to his father-in law in Lycia (Far East) inscripted with the message to "kill the bearer of the letter". The father-in-law, also unwilling to violate Xenia in fear of the wrath of the Erinyes, instructs Bellerophon to defeat the monsterous Chimera to relieve the dishonor of his accusation.
Bellerophon seeks the aid of Athena, who gives him a golden bridal of which he can use to tame the mythological steed Pegasus. He succeeds in slaying the Chimera through suffocation, and returns to the Greek mainland a hero.

Later on, Bellerophon attempts to ascent Mt. Olympus on Pegasus. For his Hubris, Zeus sends a gadfly to aggravate Pegasus into bucking him off. While Pegasus is captured by Zeus, Bellerophon falls from grace (literally and metaphorically), and lives out the rest of his days as a cripple.

Perseus (Ch 21)

Etymology: N/a.
Geographic Associations: Are of Argos, Mycenae and Tiryns, centre of Greek mainlans.
Origin: Central Greek culture figure. Son of Zeus + Danae.
Claim to Fame: Slaying the Gorgon Medusa, rescuing Andromeda, founder of Mycanae
Literature: Herodontus

Birth: Danae (daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos) + Zeus (Golden Shower)
1. Prophecy for Life: Son of Danae will overthrow King Acrisius.
2. Miraculous Conception: Danae is imprisoned in a brazen [underground chamber/tower] by her father to preserve her virtue. Zeus appears as a shower of sparks to impregnate her.
3. Imminent Threat at Birth: Acrisius denies divine parentage, and casts his daughter and grandson out to the Aegean sea in a chest. Rescued by Dictys ("net man") rescues the pair and delivers them to his brother Polydectes, King of Seriphos, who falls for Danae much to her resistance.
4. Quest: Polydectes orders the young men of the island to bring the throne a horse each. Perseus one ups his peers by boasting he can bring him the head of a Gorgon.

• With the assistance of Athena, he is directed to the Graiai ("Grey Ones", daughters of Phorcys + Ceto) where he steals their single eye and tooth to obtain the whereabouts of the nymphs. 
• From the nymphs, Perseus obtains the Cap of Invisibility, Winged Sandals, and a leather Kibisis ("pouch"). Later variants add in the Scimitar and Polished Shield of Hermes. He then seeks to find the Gorgons Stheno (i.), Euryale (i.), and Medusa (m.).
•  Using the polished shield to prevent petrification, Perseus beheads Medusa and places it in the Kibisis. From her decapitated body springs her two offspring from a tryst with Poseidon, Pegasus (winged horse) and Chrysaor ("he of the Golden Sword"). 
• On his return journey, Perseus saves Andromeda (daughter of Cassiopia + Cepheus, King of Ethiopia) from being sacrificed to Poseidon's sea monster for her mothers hubristic claim she is more ceautiful than the Neriads (Egyptian Oracle of Zeus Ammon symbolizes Greek/African fusion). He then defeats Andromeda's bethrothed, Phineus, by transforming him to stone, and then takes her hand in marriage. 
• On his return to the Island of Seriphos, Perseus avenges his mothers harassment by turning Polydectes to stone, elevating Dictys to crowned ruler.
• While participating in the funeral games in Thessaly, he accidentally kills Acrisius with a stray discus throw. Since he cannot return to Argos with blood on his hands, he becomes king of Tiryns and with Andromeda creates the generations before the family of Atreus.

5. Afterward and Etiology: The Gorgon head is given to Athena for her [breastplate/shield] called the Gorgoneion, while the Sandals, Kibisis, and Cap are given to Hermes. Perseus and Danae form a family and have a son, Perses, that inherits the kingdom of Cepheus and fathers the Perseid Dynasty (ancestors of Heracles).

• Athena invents the flute in imitation of the lamentations of the two surviving Gorgons.
• On his escape, Pegasus strikes Mr Helicon in passing, and from it the Hippocrene fountain emerges, spouting artistic inspiration for generations to come.
• As Perseus flew over Libya, the Gorgon blood dripped through the Kibisis = poisonous snakes.
• As Perseus passed Atlas he was refused hospitality, so he turned Atlas to stone = Atlas mountains.

Odysseus (Ch 20)

Etymology: Unknown. Ep. Polytropos "of many twists and turns".
Origin: King of Ithica, husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus. Son of Laertes and Anticlia.
Claim to Fame: Cunning, Trojan Horse, Katabasis (mortal descent into hell)
Literature: Vergil's Aeneid, Homer's Odyssey, Homer's Illiad

Nostos ("Homecoming")

After 10 years of fighting at Troy alongside Achilles, it takes him 10 years to return home to Ithaca to his faithful wife and growing son.

1. Cicones, Thracian tribe allied with the Trojans
Odysseus sacks the city of the Cicones at Ismarus, but spares Apollo's priest Maron in exchange for 12 amphorae of wine. Six men from each of his ships are slaughtered as reinforcements arrive and they must flee.

2. Lotus-Eaters, North Africa
As they were rounding the tip of the Peloponnesus, the wind blows them off course to the land of the lotus-eaters, where one taste of their fruit is to attain blissful, apathetic oblivion. Odysseus resists the temptations to be relieved of all wants, desires, and passions in life through eternal sleep, and forces his men back to the ships to continue on home.

3. Polyphemus, one-eyed giant, son of Poseidon
Odysseus is captured by the giant Polyphemus, who kills and eats his six of his men before imprisoning them in his cave. They drug him with the 12 amphorae of wine, and while he is sleeping Odysseus blinds him with a burning stick, whispering to him that his name is "nobody" so the other cyclopes could not charge him. To escape, Odysseus and his surviving crew tie themselves to the bellies of the giant's sheep, so when he took them out to graze the prisoners were left undiscovered. As they sail away, Odysseus accidentally reveals his name, earning the wrath of Poseidon by the wrongdoing of his son.

4. Aeolus, keeper of the winds
They stop of the island of Aeolus, and befriend its inhabitant so that he gives Odysseus a leather bag containing the winds that will blow them home safely. Unfortunately just as they are almost in view of Ithaca Odysseus falls asleep and the mischievous crew open the bag, blowing them all back to Aeolus' island. This time, they cannot convince Aeolus to aid them again, so they turn to the seas once more.

5. Laestrygones, cannibalistic tribe
Captured by cannibals, 11 of Odysseus' 12 ships are destroyed and the men are devoured. Odysseus and his own ship's crew is all that remains.

6. Circe, sorceress, daughter of Helius. Island of Aeaea.
Odysseus and his crew are welcomed by Circe, and while he stays behind with the ship, they are all transformed into swine. Hermes intervenes, giving Odysseus the herb "moly" (antidote to her witchcraft), and Odysseus seduces Circe into transforming his men back into humans and letting them go. He first convinces her to reveal the means by which he can learn how to get home, several warnings for the jounrey ahead, and attains instructions to perform Nekuia ("spirit summoning") to consult the spirit of the dead seer Tiresias.

7. Katabasis, kata "down" + basis "going" (Homer's Odyssey Book 11, "Book of the Dead")
In the far west, Odysseus performs the rituals of Nekuia to summon the spirit of Tiresias. As instructed by Circe, Odysseus sacrificed an unfertile heifer and black sheep as well as pour a libation of honey, wine, milk, water, and blood to replenish the dead and convince Erebus to release several shades:
- Anticlia (mother), who died of a broken heart waiting for her son. Odysseus attempts three times to embrace her, but passes through her shade
- Elpenor (comrade at arms), who died of a drunken escapade and was left unburied and unwept. Cursed for 100 years.
- Achilles (comrade at arms), who died of Paris' divine arrow, asserts "it's better a slave on earth than King of the Dead"
- Ajax (comrade at arms), who died of suicide at the incomprehension of losing a wager to Odysseus, turns his back and refuses to speak.
- Tiresias (seer), who died of old age, is given blood in exchange for the knowledge that will return Odysseus alone to Ithica, where he must face Penelope's suitors before he can attain his rightful place.

8. Sirens, women who lure ships to rocks said to hold intellectual/sexual secrets = femme fatale
Eager to hear their song, Odysseus orders his men to tie him to the mast of the ship (by no means untie him) and plug their own ears with wax so they can safely pass. Like Prometheus, Odysseus succeeds in overcoming temptation with foresight.

9. Scylla and Charybdis, straits of Messina (Sicily and Italy)
To negotiate the violent rocks and whirlpools, Odysseus adheres to the side of the strait associated with Scylla. Six of his men are consumed by her. They also pass safely through Planctae ("clashing rocks"), the Mediterranean Sea/ Black Sea passage connection.

10. Cattle of Thrinacia, island of Helius
Warned by Circe not to touch the cattle, Odysseus's crew disobeys, earning the wrath of Helius as enacted by Zeus's thunderbolt. Everyone drowns but Odysseus, who avoids Charybdis, clinging to the wreckage of his ship.

11. Calypso ("concealer"), sea-nymph and daughter of Atlas

Imprisons Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for 7 years. Although she nourishes him back to health as well as promises him immortality, Odysseus cannot justify (a) not returning to his family and kingdom, and (b) having his name left unspoken due to his concealment. He petitions Zeus, who sends Hermes to sanction his release.

12. Phaeacians, peaceful seafaring tribe, Scheria

Odysseus' raft is shipwrecked by Poseidon near the isle of the Scheria but Leucothea and Athena help him ashore. He is discovered by the princess Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous and Arete, who earns his stays at their court through the retelling of his adventures. He shows prowess in a number of contests, and is sent home to Ithica with magical intervention.

Poseidon, angered by the Phaeacian's intervention, turns their ships to stone.

Arrival at Ithica

Since Telemachus is too young to be eligible for the throne, Peripheron Penelope ("circumspect") is harassed by a number of suitors intending to steal it from Odysseus.

- Telemacheus travels to Pylos to visit King Nestor, and Sparta to visit King Menalaus, to discover whether Odysseus still lives.
- Meanwhile, Penelope promises she shall pick a suitor once she is finished weaving her husbands shround (each night she undoes the days work to start over in the morning)

Disguised as a begger, Athena directs Odysseus to Eumaeus, the swine herd who kept Odysseus' faithful dog, Argus. The dog recognises his master and drops dead, affirming his identity as the lost king to Eumaeus and Telemachus. Similarly, an old nurse of his (Euryclea, characterized by her gashed thigh) washes his feet as a charity to a beggar, but upon recognizing them, she recognizes her king.

He arranges a meeting with Penelope on the claim he has seen Odysseus, dropping hints at his true identity by commenting on the fact she is not wearing a certain brooch (a gift from Odysseus, long ago).
In response to her suspicion of the stranger at court Penelope arranges an archery contest for the suitors, whereby they must string her husbands bow and shoot through 12 axeheads. Each one fails, until the beggar is given a turn, whereby Odysseus enacts his vengeance through his dramatic reveal.

• Father and son slaughters Antinoos (main suitor) and the rest, sparing only Medon (herald) and Phemius (bard). 
• The 12 Servant-girls that taunted the beggar at court as well as slept with the suitors were charged with cleaning up the bloodshed, then were hanged for their disloyalty. 
• Goat-herd Melanthius was mutilated and killed for violating Xenia.

Having been sent away during the bloodshed, Penelope enacts one last test for the stranger by asking Nurse Euryclea to move her marriage bed, which only few know that it is actually hand-carved out of a living, rooted olive tree. Odysseus' outrage at this order confirms his identity as it is a secret symbol of their tryst. Athena then consummates Odysseus's return and he obtains his rightful place as ruler of Ithica.

The Trojan Saga, pt. II (Ch 19)

Homer's Iliad Proper

Wrath of Achilles (Book I)
The Trojan priest of Apollo Chryses attempts to ransom his daughter from her position as concubine at Agamemnon's court, but because she is considered part of the 'spoils of war', his wish is refused. In despair Chryses calls upon Apollo to punish the hubristic king, and a plague of arrows is launched against the Achaeans, decimating the army's beasts and men.
Calchas, seer of Sparta, protected by Achilles, prophetizes she must be returned, but Agamemnon demands compensation in the form of Achilles's concubine, Burseis. Achilles nearly slaughters the entire court but is held back by Athena, who reimburses his loss with an alliance to the Gods and the promise of a 10-fold reward. Achilles takes his leave with these words of warning to Agamemnon: "You will tear your heart, angry that you did not honor the best of the Achaeans". He withdraws from fighting as Burseis is taken from him, and as a result the Trojans gain the upper hand in the battle.
He is consoled by Thetis, who appeals to Zeus and binds him to his oath that (a) Achilles is granted honor, and (b) the Trojans will succeed while Achilles is absent from war.

The Trojans (Book VI)
Achilles nemesis, Hector (son of Priam, brother of Paris), awaits in Troy at the head of his army. Although his wife Andromache, and his newborn son Astyanax, plead with Hector not to go to battle (and inevitably widowing her) but he refuses to violate the warrior ethos. Even though he knows his struggle will be a lost cause, he cannot bear the public shame of being seen as a coward.

Embassy to Achilles (Book IX)
Agamemnon sends three heroes to nurse Achilles pride and convince him to return to battle: Odysseus (for guile), Phoenix (for wisdom), and Ajax the Greater, son of Telamon (for strength).
Achilles hubristically rejects Odysseus, despite being amply compensated for his humiliation (all spoils of victory, his concubine returned untouched, as well as 20 of the finest Trojan women), claiming that he will not submit to a bribe from a cowardly ruler.
He then more sensitively rejects his old tutor, Phoenix, who attempts to play upon his sentiments of honor and dishonor.
He finally rejects Ajax, who bluntly states the warrior code and finds it hard to believe Achilles will not fight simply for a girl.
Meanwhile, Patrocles (Achilles long time friend and training partner) begs Achilles that take action against Hector, who is burning the Greek ships. He dons Achilles' armour, and is warned not to fight Hector one on one. The ruse works and the tides turn against the Trojans, until Patrocles goes one step too far and is wounded, revealing his identity. Hector slays him and strips him of his armour (highest indignity).
Achilles is shocked back into action and vows vengeance upon Hector, despite being aware of his imminent (but glorified) death. He ends his quarrel with Agamemnon, stating he fights for Patrocles and no one else. Thetis brings Achilles new armour and a new shield (depiction of war on one side, peace on the other) fashioned by Hephaestus on Mt. Olympus, which become a symbolic talisman on the battlefield.

Hector vs. Achilles (Book XXII)
Achilles faces Hector alone on the battlefield, two men who have accepted their fates. Hector loses courage and attempts to flee, and he is chased by Achilles three times around the walls of Troy until Athena intervenes. Hector is tricked into thinking he has backup against Achilles, but Athena (disguised as a trojan) disappears when his back is turned. At this cowardice, Apollo removes his backing from Troy, and Athena asserts her psychostasic alliance with Achilles ("while humans weigh lives, the Gods weigh souls and cities").
Hector appeals to Achilles humility by asking for proper burial rites for the loser, but Achilles shows no mercy, slaughters Hector, and drags his corpse behind his chariot around Troy and back to the camp (Unpunished hubrisic action #3)
After defeating, defiling, and kidnapping Hector's corpse, Achilles sleeps over it, having it renewed by Apollo each day for fresh dishonour. He celebrates Patroclus's death with funeral games, and by sacrificing 12 Trojan youth (Unpunished hubris #4). Thetis, seeing this excessive disrespect for the dead, appeals to Zeus, to takes action so Achilles will relent.
One night, guided by Hermes, Prium sneaks into the Greek camp and begs for Hectors body as a father. Faced by the slayer of his children, he ransoms his son from the warrior and is able to return home.

The Burial of Hector (XXIV)
The Iliad ends with Hector's proper burial at Troy.
"No human action is without grief... some were driven through cruel misery by divine intention, based on luck and not discretion."

The Mycenaean Saga (Ch 18)

The Mycenaean Saga is oriented around the trials of Pelops and his descendents, namely the House of Atreus.

Etymology: Pelops, pelios "dark" + ops "eye"
Origin: Cult site at Olympia, the Pelopion ("shrine to Pelops") which precedes the worship of Zeus.
Claim to Fame: Eponymous hero of the Peloponnesus ("island of Pelops"), Olympic Games, multigenerational family blood-feud
Literature: Aeschylus' Oresteia (Agamemnon, Choephori/Libation Bearers, Eumenides)

Tantalus, King of Mt. Sipylus, served his son Pelops to feasting Gods at his court. In return he suffered eternal retribution in Hades with an insatiable thirst and hunger, with food and drink just out of reach. Zeus, having mercy on Pelops, restored him almost perfectly to life with a replacement ivory shoulder, for the flesh that was mistakenly consumed by Demeter. He is abducted and brought to Olympia, where he learns the sport of chariot driving.

Once grown, Pelops develops an affection for Hippodamia, daughter of Oenomaus (King of Pisa). First he must complete the marriage challenge forwarded by the King, who defeated 13 prior suitors in a death race and mounted their heads on spikes as a warning.

Pelops enters the competition with a golden chariot and winged steeds, a gift from his abductee Poseidon. He then bribes the King's charioteer, Myrtilus, with a one night stand with Hippodamia if Myrtilus is able to sabotage the King's chariot and ensure Pelops' victory. Oenomaus's lynchpin is replaced with wax, which caused his chariot to fall apart in the race and for Oenomaus to be dragged to death by his own horses. The victorious Pelops renegs on his deal with Myrtilus by pushing him off a cliff. Before his last breath, however, Myrtilus curses the descendants of Pelops.

Now the new King of Pisa, Pelops institutes the Olympic Games (a) in honor of his victory over Oenomaus, and (b) to purify himself of miasma ("blood-pollution").

Hippodamia bears him two sons, Atreus and Thyestes, who quarrel over the kingdom due to an oracle that states the kingdom of Pelops will go to one of his sons. Atreus' claim that it is his right as eldest is bested by Thyestes "divine sign" of a golden-fleeced ram (which he obtained by cuckolding Atreus by sleeping with his wife Aerope and stealing Atreus's own ram).

Atreus feigns reconciliation by inviting his brother for dinner and serving him his own sons, and recieves a curse upon his own descendants as Thyestes goes into exile, where an oracle tells Thyestes that if he bears a son with his own daughter, Pelopia, he will overthrow Atreus.

Atreus has two sons, Agamemnon and Menelaus who each marry the daughters of Tyndareus (Clytemnestra and Helen), and ascend the thrones of Mycenae and Sparta, respectively.

• Agamemnon (King of Mycenae) + Clytemnestra = Orestes (m.), Electra (f.), Iphigenia (f.)
• Menalaus (King of Sparta) + Helen

When Menalaus's wife, Helen, is abducted by Paris (see Trojan Saga pt. ii), all of Greece must go to war. Before they depart, however, the greek seer indicates Artemis is angry and demands the sacrifice of Agamemnon's own daughter, Iphigenia, to gain favourable winds. They depart for 10 years war at Troy.

Aeschelus' Oresteia, "Agamemnon"

 Meanwhile, a vengeful Clytemnestra takes Aegisthus as a lover, and waits for her husband to return. Though his death [and her own] is foreseen by the cursed seer Cassandra, Agamemnon is mercilessly slaughtered by his wife and nephew.

Aeschelus' Oresteia, "Choephori (Libation Bearers)"

Vengeful of her father, Electra pours a libation on her fathers grave begging for Orestes return. Orestes, previously in exile, is divinely sanctioned by Apollo to avenge his fathers death, but as he murders his mother and cousin, he is driven mad by the Erinyes ("furies") for murdering a family member.

Aeschelus' Oresteia, "Eumenides"

Orestes [and his flock of furies] ventures to Delphi to seek purification from matricide from Apollo (animal sacrifice), who then directs him to Athens for total absolution. He pleads his case before Areopagus, the Athenian court. Defended by Apollo, persecuted by the Erinyes, judged by Athena and her Athenians, Orestes is acquitted of his family crime because the murder of his father is considered greater than the murder of his mother. Thus, the curse of Myrtilus is broken.
The Erinyes are appeased, and become known as the Eumenides ("kindly ones") and are integrated into the Athenian rule of law as part of checks and balances.

Moral of the story? Out of murder, blood pollution, family vendetta, and vengeance comes order.

The Theban Saga (Ch17)

Overview: Focuses on Bronze Age Thebes in Boetia, Central Greece.
Literature: Ovid's Metamorphosis, Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus
Claim to Fame: Double foundation myth

Founding Myth I

Cadmus, in a desperate search for his abducted sister Europa, consults the oracle at Delphi who ignores his requests and commands him to follow a cow and build a city at that location. Cadmus abandons his search for his sister, and follows a cow to a spring occupied by Ares' serpent, where it the cow is sacrificed. The site becomes the citadel "Cadmeia", the acropolis of a new city.
Athena advises him to slay the serpent as well, then sow its teeth, of which spartoi ("armed men") spring from the ground and battle each other. The five surviving become the five head families that become the nobility of Thebes.

In penance for slaying the serpent, Cadmus serves as slave to Ares for one year, for which he is rewarded with the hand of Harmonia (daughter of Ares and Aphrodite). All gods attend the wedding, whereby Harmonia receives a necklace fashioned by Hephaestus as a bridal gift. They have two daughters, Semele (mother of Dionysus) and Agave (mother of Pentheus), and live out their days until they are transformed into serpents in death.

Founding Myth II

Antiope is raped by Zeus, and bears twin sons Amphion and Zethus who are abandoned on Mt. Cithaeron and raised by a shepard. The boys grow old and talented, Amphion a musician ("dreamer") and Zethus a shepard ("pragmatist"), then return to Cadmeia to avenge their mother and gain rule. Amphion's music assembles surrounding stones into the walls of the city with 7 gates, while Zethus renames the city after his wife Thebe (except the acropolis, forever known as Cadmeia).

The Theban Saga then continues into the rule of Oedipus.

Athena (Ch 8)

Etymology and Epithets:
     (g.) Athena
     (l.) Minerva, mens "mind"
     Tritogeneia ("daughter of Triton"), possibly a reference to Triton, god of River of Lake, birthplace?
     Panoply ("all armed")
     Glaukopis, "grey eyed"/"owl eyed"
     Pallas, "weapon brandishing" (See Myth.II)
     Parthanos, "virgin"/"maiden" (See Myth. III)
Domain: Athens. Panhellenic status.
Genealogy: Zeus + Metis. Delivered through Zeus' cracked skull.
Claim to Fame: Goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, craftsmenship, spinning and weaving, protectorate of cities and heros. Symbolic of a union between indigenous matriarchal cultures and the import of an indo-european sky god (snaky, but born from Zeus. An androgynous figure = warrior princess).
Iconography: Snake, aegis, helmet, owl, olive sprig
Literature: Homeric Hymn to Athena, Hesiod's Theogony, Linear B, Ovid's Metamorphosis

Myth

I. Birth: Zeus impregnates Metis ("wisdom") and swallows her in fear that her son will overthrow him. Instead a daughter is born from his splitting headache (either fights her way out, with a mighty war cry, or is freed by the hammer of Hephestus). Depicted on the East Pediment of the Parthanon.
II. Pallas: Athena's childhood friend, Pallas (daughter of Triton), is accidentally killed as they are at play. In remorse, a wooden statue is fashioned in her honor, adorned with the aegis. Zeus abducts the Palladium and places it in Troy, where it becomes on of the preconditions of Trojan defeat later on.
III. Parthanon ("house of the virgin"): Rested atop the acropolis ("high city") in Athens, the Parthanon was built in mid 5th century BCE under Pericles. It was said that Athena and Poseidon battled for patronage of the city, with the citizens as the jury. While Poseidon produces an immense salt spring/stampede of horses (variant), Athena touches the earth with her spear and the first olive tree sprouts. While her birth is depicted on the East Pediment, her victory over Poseidon is depicted on the west.
IV. Arachne: A mortal spinster by the name of Arachne boasts that she is better than Minerva at weaving. Upon hearing this hubris, Minerva appears under the guise of an old woman, and warns Arachne of her arrogance and to "know thyself". Arachne pays no heed to this warning, and is thus challenged to a weaving contest which she is defeated. Not only does Minerva smash Arachne's own loop over her head, she prevents her from completing suicide by transforming her into a spider

Poseidon (Ch 7)

Etymology and Epithets:
     (g.) Poseidon, Posis "husband" + don... da "of Da" (ie. Consort of Earth mother), or Posis "to drink"
     (l.) Neptune
     "Earth Shaker", "Earth Holder"
     Potamos ("river"), associated with the I.E. God of Freshwater, who attains domain over salt water
     as they migrated to the coast.
     Hippios, "horsey" another I.E. association with riding-cultures. Horses drowned in his honor.
Domain: The sea. Tectonic plates.
Genealogy: Cronus + Rhea. Brother of Zeus.
Claim to Fame: God of the sea, horse riding, earthquakes, irregular temperaments.
Iconography: trident, waves, fish, horses, ships
Literature: Ovid's Metamorphosis

Myth

I. Poseidon Erechtheum ("original soil"): Despite losing the contest for patronage for Athens (See Athena), Poseidon is appeased by the citizens (in fear or appreciation, we'll never know) and a temple is built in his honor on the grounds of the Parthanon. The Erechtheum is characterized by its Carytid statues, beautiful women holding various items of symbolic significance, which serve the same function as columns.

II. Hippios and Demeter: In Arcadia it was rumored that Poseidon pursued his own sister, Demeter, who sought to escape him by disguising herself as a mare. Poseidon transformed into a stallion, and the magical steed Arion is born.
Similar origins for the mythological creature Pegasus as well, as Poseidon entered another tryst with Medusa to the same outcome.

III. Amphitrite: Poseidon took Amphitrite as his wife and had a son Triton. While daddy acts up to bring storms to sink ships, Triton blows his conch shell to calm the seas.
Amphitrite herself works hard to keep her marriage monogamous, and Poseidon is kept on a short leash.
Scylla (daughter of Phorcys), an object of Poseidon's desire is transformed into a monster whose lower half is ringed by dogs. She flees to the straits of Messina, where her and Charybdis (daughter of Poseidon and Gaia), a vicious whirlpool that spews three times a day, work to make sailors lives miserable.

IV. Odysseus: See Odysseus for details on Poseidon's pursuit of this wily hero.